Family Passeridae
sparrows and relatives
(Also: Old World sparrows)

The family Passeridae includes Old World sparrows, snowfinches and relatives. They are often confused with New World sparrows (family Emberizidae). Though they share a superficial resemblance, these two groups are not closely related. Most members of this family are brown or gray and lack any bright coloration. They are seed eaters and have a short, strong, decurved bill. Their songs are usually simple.

Old World sparrows were originally found in Europe, Asia and Africa. However, as a result of introductions by humans, today they have an almost worldwide distribution. Old World sparrows generally inhabit open areas. They are well adapted to urban landscapes and can be found alongside humans throughout the world.

Howard and Moore’s Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World (2003) lists 11 genera and 40 species within Passeridae. (Dickinson, 2003; Groschupf, 2001)

Members of the family Passeridae are native to the Palearctic, Ethiopian and Oriental regions, and the highest diversity of Old World sparrows exists in these regions. Humans introduced Old World sparrows to the Nearctic, Neotropical and Australian regions. House sparrows (Passer domesticus) and Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) have been the most successful of the introduced sparrows. In fact, house sparrows, which are native to North Africa, Europe and Asia, are now the most widespread bird species in the world. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Eno, 2002; Groschupf, 2001; Summers-Smith, 1988)

Old World sparrows generally live in open habitats and are not usually found in forests. They are found in rocky arid habitat, open woodlands, swamps, marshy areas, scrub, savanna, forest clearings, coastal cliffs and near agricultural, suburban and urban areas. They can also live and breed inside buildings such as airports and shopping malls. In fact, they are so adaptable that one pair of sparrows actually survived and bred 640 meters underground in a coal mine in England. They survived on food given to them by miners. Old World sparrows can be found in habitats from sea level up to 4500 meters. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Groschupf, 2001; Summers-Smith, 1988)

The family Passeridae (Old World sparrows, snowfinches and relatives) is a member of the order Passeriformes (perching birds). More than half of the world’s birds belong to the order Passeriformes. Members of the family Passeridae are often confused with New World sparrows (Family Emberizidae) because of similarities in appearance and behavior. However, the two groups are not closely related. New World sparrows evolved in the New World and Old World sparrows in the Old World.

The family Passeridae used to be listed as a subfamily (Passerinae) in the family Ploceidae (weavers) along with the subfamilies Plocinae (typical weavers) and Bubalornithinae (buffalo-weavers). They were also listed as a subfamily Passerinae under the family Passeridae. Sometimes estrildid finches (family Estrildidae) are also included in the family Passeridae.

Close relatives to Old World sparrows are pipits (family Motacillidae), accentors (family Prunellidae) and possibly finches (family Fringillidae).

Synapomorphies include: a dorsally placed, reduced first primary and a neomorph bone in the tongue (this helps to stiffen their tongues and aids in seed eating). (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Groschupf, 2001; Payne, 2003; Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990)

Old World sparrows are small to medium sized, stocky birds (12 to 18 cm long) with a short bill with a decurved culmen and short legs. They do not have the bright coloration typical of some birds Rather, most are dull browns and grays and may have black and white markings. Old World sparrows strongly resemble New World sparrows, and the two are often confused.

Most species of Old World sparrows are sexually dimorphic. Males are usually bigger than females, and sometimes have black on the throat and chin along with some black on their heads. Both females and juveniles usually have less coloration than adult males. Male feather colors may be brighter during the breeding season. In some species, the bill changes color from tan to black during the breeding season. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Groschupf, 2001; Summers-Smith, 1988)

Annual adult survival is usually between 45 to 65 percent for members of Passeridae. The oldest recorded Old World sparrow was a house sparrow (Passer domesticus) that lived to be 13 years and 4 months in the wild. There are also records of grey-headed sparrows (Passer griseus) that survived 11 years in captivity, golden sparrows (Passer luteus) living 9 to 14 years in captivity and house sparrows living 12 to 14 years in captivity. (Summers-Smith, 1988)

Old World sparrows are highly gregarious; they often roost and breed communally and form feeding flocks. Dominance hierarchies can exist within feeding flocks. Old World sparrows are mainly diurnal, but will sometimes feed at night in urban areas to catch insects that are attracted to lights. Males are territorial during the breeding season. They defend their territories by calling and giving threatening displays with their wings held out and tail feathers spread apart and raised. Birds will attack each other if a territorial battle escalates.

Most members of Passeridae are non-migratory. Palearctic species make small seasonal movements. Species living at high elevations may move to lower elevations during winter.

Old World sparrows bathe in water if it is available and sand bathe in arid areas. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Groschupf, 2001; Summers-Smith, 1988)

Unlike many Passerines, most Old World sparrows do not have a true song. They usually chip and sometimes string chip-notes together. They also have distinct alarm calls.

Old World sparrows have numerous threat and mating displays that individuals use to communicate with other. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Summers-Smith, 1988)

Old World sparrows are omnivorous. During the breeding season they are primarily insectivores. Throughout the rest of the year they are primarily seed eaters. They eat cereals, grain, grass and weed seeds, seed sprouts, berries and buds, insects and spiders. In urban areas they will also eat human waste. Young sparrows are fed primarily insects.

Old World sparrows often feed in flocks, usually on the ground. There are dominance hierarchies within feeding flocks and sometimes females will displace males at feeders. They are usually diurnal, but will sometimes feed at night in urban areas to catch insects that are attracted to lights. Bill length can change as much as 5 to 15 percent during the non-breeding season. The seeds the birds eat wear down their bills at a faster rate than they can grow back. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Groschupf, 2001; Summers-Smith, 1988)

Known predators of Old World sparrows include hawks (family Accipitridae), owls (family Strigidae), snakes (suborder Serpentes), house cats (Felis silvestris) and raccoons (Procyon lotor). In a study in England, Churcher and Lawton (1987) found that 30 percent of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) deaths could be attributed to cats. A possible strategy Old World sparrows use to reduce predation is foraging in flocks, a behavior that allows for increased vigilance and reduces each individual bird's chance of being caught. (Churcher and Lawton, 1987; Granholm, 2003; Summers-Smith, 1988)

Old World sparrows are important members of their ecosystem. Because of their food habits, they likely have a regulatory influence on insect populations, and they are an important food source for their predators. They also serve as seed dispersal agents for many plant species. House sparrows (Passer domesticus) in particular also have a large (although negative) effect on many other bird species. They are very aggressive and are able to take over nests and kill the eggs and nestlings of other birds. This is particularly problematic in the areas where they have been introduced, since they displace native species, many of which are already facing population declines. (Granholm, 2003; Groschupf, 2001)

Old World sparrows are crop pests, causing damage in orchards and gardens. They can also be problematic in urban areas where flocks gather and leave droppings that can kill ornamental plants and cause damage to cars. They also build nests in unwanted places such as air vents and eaves of buildings. In addition, they can carry diseases such as Newcastle disease, salmonelosis and toxoplasmosis, among others. They can also spread parasites to humans and livestock. Much time and money are spent to exclude unwanted sparrows. House sparrows (Passer domesticus) in particular cause the problems listed above because they are so widespread and abundant. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Groschupf, 2001; Summers-Smith, 1988; Texas Wildlife Damage Management Service, 2003)

Old World sparrows help to control the populations of some agricultural pests, especially those found on corn, grapes and wheat. They are also common visitors to bird feeders. (Summers-Smith, 1988)

No members of the family Passeridae are listed by the IUCN, CITES, the US MBTA or the US Federal List. As a result of changes in agricultural processes, some populations are declining. However, at this point, Old World sparrows do not require conservation efforts. ("UNEP-WCMC Species Database: CITES-Listed Species", 2003; IUCN, 2002; Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990; Threatened and Endangered Species System, 2003; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, date unknown)